Minaya works to get closers to meet Mets  —  Mets general manager Omar Minaya reached out to the agents for Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes Tuesday to schedule “future meetings,” a source told the Daily News.  The Mets are not believed to have made financial offers to the closers, and are not expected to bid before Thanksgiving.

Frank and Jamie McCourt have a question for Dodgers fans  —  Would you rather have a top free agent or 50 youth fields in L.A., Frank and Jamie McCourt wonder.  —  Would Dodgers fans react negatively if the team were to pay big money to free agents when the nation's economy is in sharp decline and many Americans are losing their jobs?

Angels might take more serious run at Sabathia  —  A pair of lefthanders on the Yankees' radar - one whom they know very well, one whom they don't - are both talking with West Coast teams.  The bad news for the Yankees is that the Angels' interest in CC Sabathia appears more serious than the Dodgers' interest in Andy Pettitte.

Free agents who could very well be bargains … Several front office people surveyed for this story had a difficult time mustering enthusiasm for the concept: a piece on potential free-agent bargains.  —  “Free-agent bargain is an oxymoron,” said an American League official.

All Is Unusually Quiet on the Free-Agent Front  —  On Monday, Major League Baseball's daily transaction wire consisted of a small trade, one team's coaching selections and the release of a minor leaguer.  If those moves constituted the full docket on a day in February, June or August, they would have hardly stood out.

Phils contact Lowe, Burnett  —  The Phillies continue to talk with free-agent lefthander Jamie Moyer about a new contract, but the parties have yet to reach an agreement.  —  Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said he remains hopeful Moyer will be back.

Memo to the Mets: Let Heilman Start  —  As Thanksgiving approaches, the Mets are still two reliable starters short, with only Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey and John Maine assured of spots in next season's rotation.  Oliver Perez remains unsigned, and if the season opened today, Jonathon Niese …

Welcome to Bailout Ballpark  —  So what will that new stadium in Flushing be called next year, anyway?  —  How about John Q. Taxpayer Field?  Or Joe Sixpack Park, in honor of all the people paying for it who have no chance of ever sitting in one of its 40,000 high-priced seats?  Bailout Ballpark, anyone?

Marlins Bump Opening Date of New Stadium to 2012  —  With the Florida Marlins locked in a legal battle that appears to have been resolved as of this week, the planned date for opening their new $515 million stadium at the current site of the Orange Bowl in Little Havana will have to wait a bit longer.

As a manager, Oquendo is a not-so-secret weapon  —  31 March, 2008 — Cardinals' Ryan Ludwick is waved around third base by Jose Oquendo during a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Colorado Rockies at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo. (Chris Lee/P-D)

Cubs Rumors: Teahen, Edmonds, Marquis  —  By Tim Dierkes [November 25 at 2:48pm CST]  —  Earlier today I spoke with a source familiar with the Cubs' thinking, and dug up enough info for a fresh post.  — While Mark Teahen is a player of interest for the Cubs, they certainly won't be trading Mike Fontenot and Sean Marshall for him.